Portugal’s national statistics agency, the Instituto Nacional de Estantistica (INE), has recently released its latest figures on house prices in the country. Through September, 2008, house prices in the country fell 4.8 percent throughout Portugal. The average price of a home was €1,164 per square meter in September, down 6.5 percent from the peak price of €1,245 per square meter in the fourth...

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The rental market in Bali for villas has continued to be strong, according to recent news reports from the island. With the Easter holidays coming up, demand is strong for holiday villas, and it looks like that will continue well into the year.   Ian Macauley, president of the Elite Havens Group, was quoted by Asia Property Report, saying that “Our rental team is having trouble keeping up with inquiry...

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is set to be the largest real estate market in the Middle East, according to a report from real estate advisory Jones Lang LaSalle. Saudi Arabia is one of the fastest growing countries in the world and, unlike most of the other Middle East nations, demand for property is coming mostly from internal sources.   From 1998 to 2008, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has seen a population...

UK residents have been moving out of cities and to coastal areas, according to the latest research from Halifax. From 1997 to 2007, 80 percent of the areas in the country that saw the highest increases in internal migration – those who moved from one part of the England and Wales to another – are along the coast. Additionally, 95 percent of the areas that have the largest drop in internal migration are...

23/02/09 The old adage a week is a long time in politics can also be applied to this week’s currency market.  There is without doubt much uncertainty in the financial markets and this is set to continue. This week will see a set of data being released that could well change currency rates giving both winners and losers. We provide a summary of this week’s major data announcements.  All times are...

Brazil’s 54th consecutive Carnival started winding up this past weekend with the biggest events getting under way in Rio de Janeiro. Street parties and fancy dress balls have been well under way, with official activities having begun on the 20th of February. The famous parades take place on the 22nd and 23rd, ending in the Sambadromo, the specially built viewing area for the parades.   The parades...

Travelers between Australia and New Zealand should soon have an easier time flying between the two countries. Following several years of discussions and plans, the customs officials of both nations are about to relax rules on travel between them, classifying flights across the Tasman Sea as domestic trips.   There is currently an open skies agreement between Australia and New Zealand, and the rules for...

Today the Guardian report that Metrovacesa. Spain’s largest property company will be in the control of its creditor banks including Santander after massive losses totalling €738m. The report also highlights the fact that the purchase of HSBC's tower in Canary Wharf – could well have helped the downfall of Metrovacesa.   Six Spanish banks have taken control of troubled Metrovacesa SA, swapping debt...

Designer homes fit for any Channel 4 Grand Design fan are changing the Silver Coast landscape in Portugal at Bom Sucesso Portugal. Unlike many would think in a credit crunch the eye for environmentally friendly detail is paramount. Portuguese developer Acordo is now leading the way in contemporary yet eco friendly homes. It has laid strict eco-guidelines on compulsory greenery and efficient energy use...